Louisa salvage

The wreck of the MFV Louisa is to be raised as part of the investigation into the sinking which caused the loss of three lives.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) which is probing the tragedy pledged to examine all details in an effort to establish the cause of the tragedy.

It has contracted an English marine salvage firm to raise the 16 metre steel-hulled crabber off the sandy seabed.

The boat would then be taken to a harbour for examination.

Three men died - including one still missing - when the Lewis-owned shellfish vessel flooded and sank while lying at anchor off the east coast of the small, uninhabited island of Mingulay.

The boat's liferaft did not inflate and the crew were left in the cold sea, hanging onto the side of the barely, floating device.

Sunken fishing boat Louisa to be raised

2 May 2016

Martin Johnstone, 29, from Caithness, and father-of-two, Chris Morrison, 27, from South Harris, died.

The skipper, Paul Alliston, of Lewis, is still missing.

Lachlan Armstrong, 27, from Stornoway, survived after managing to swim ashore to rocks.

The boat is lying in about 10 metres of water. Local fishermen say they can see her masts and superstructure from the surface at low tide.

A MAIB spokesman said: ""We have made a decision to raise the wreck and will do so when there is a suitable weather window.

"The aim of our investigation is to establish why the fishing vessel Louisa sank and why lives were lost.

"A full and detailed report will be published at the end of our investigation."